Archive for the ‘Martin’ Category

Glorify God … but glorify me too please

Posted on Thursday April 26th, 2012 at 3:49 pm by

It struck me again today just how wretched I am and how Satan plays us. Here’s what happened.

I went to the downtown area with a Myanmar friend to do some shopping this morning. As I usually do, I hailed a taxi for the return trip home. We haggle for and agree on a price and then we’re on our way. My friend and the driver talk in Myanmar for a while, and I realise that part of what they’re talking about is me. I ask my friend what they’re saying and this begins some broken translation between the driver and me, with my poor friend trying to keep up as mouthpiece for us both.

The driver was extremely friendly and talkative and animated, though he was also a little strange. He had some peculiar mannerisms, twitches, and noises, but these all seemed to add to his character. I was noticing these in the midst of our conversation too, so I didn’t think too much of it.

We began talking the usual stuff, like where I’m from, what I’m doing, and the conversation moved to him and how old he was (73), how many children he had (6, all sons), how long he’d been driving taxis, and so on. Interspersed in his conversation were comments to me like, “You’re a good man”, or “I can see you love everybody”, and “You have a very kind nature”. There were a few others, but you get the drift.

Eventually the conversation died down and I sat there thinking, “If I could speak the language better I’d be able to explain to him that I’m not that great, but He who lives in me is” (also, we were only a couple of minutes from home and I didn’t really have the time to begin sharing the gospel through a translator). But the other thought that came into my head was, “I’m wretched, sure, but I am actually a nice guy and I do love all these people.” At that moment, the driver had more twitches and strange movements, nothing too demonstrative, but noticeable, and I wondered if maybe he was possessed. I’m not blessed with the gift to discern such things, but assumed he probably wasn’t. But I asked myself that if he was, what would Satan want to say to me through him. And then it occurred to me that maybe it had already been said. Whether Satan had spoken or not is immaterial, but what happened in me was not. I had been praised and my ego had been nicely stroked. In the midst of me just being me I had been made much of. Someone had said what my deceitful and desperately sick heart (Jer. 17:9) had thought of itself all along. I realised that if Satan wanted to get to me he could do it subtly and gently with these kinds of praises of man. I’d been blind-sided, subtly but significantly.

In this culture, these kind words of praise seems to happen a lot. It comes from church folks who are grateful for a sermon or some encouragement, from Bible college students who appreciate a lesson, from friends who might be treated to a meal or simply be included in something the Westerners are doing, and from people in the street who are touched by a smile and draw that out to mean you must be a kind and wonderful person. And it feels great.

Them saying it, and me letting them say it, isn’t the issue and neither are a sin. But it’s what I do with it that reveals the old man within that’s not yet dead. If my heart was right then there wouldn’t be a problem and I wouldn’t be writing this post, but my heart isn’t right. It enjoys the approval and praise of man too much.

I’m reminded of a warning Pastor John Piper gave to a conference of pastors (sorry, can’t find the original to cite). He asked of the pastors something along the lines of, “Do you finish a sermon and then look for some positive feedback as the congregation file past you at the door? Do you hope that God will be glorified by what you preached, but also secretly hope that the people will reserve some of that glory for you?” It struck me at the time and does again now.

If you were to ask me what I want most of all from being here in Myanmar, I’d quickly and easily say, “God to be glorified.” But after today’s taxi ride I’m checking myself again for that old man within who might want some of the glory to stick to me.

I’m a wretch of a sinner whose journey of sanctification is certainly a slow work in progress. Now before you more liberal-thinking Christians tell me that I’m not a sinner, but just a a saint who sins, take a look at the evidence and stop kidding yourselves and playing with words. We’re all of us sinners. We’re all of us lawbreakers. The difference we need to focus on is that though we sin and break the law numerous times a day, we’ve been chosen by a loving God who has made us believe that Christ is “he” (John 8:24). We’re no longer bound to the punishment we deserve, for our punishment was bound to Christ when he was bound to the cross. I’m a sinner, and a wretched one, but because of what God has done in Christ, I stand forgiven. So I’m a sinner and a saint.

But I digress. Can I ask that you’d pray for me as I go about the Lord’s work here? Please pray that I’d be so filled with the concern for God to be glorified that I’d not have time to want to take any of His glory upon myself.

In his 1978 song, Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful, Keith Green wrote:

I want to take your word and shine it all around.
But first help me to just, live it Lord.
And when I’m doing well, help me to never seek a crown.
For my reward is giving glory to you.

That’s what I’m after. That’s what I want my heart to want. Please pray that I’d not need or look for the approval of man, but only ever be interested in working to please an audience of one.

Thank you, and grace be with you,
Martin

 

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I think Spurgeon was Superman

Posted on Sunday April 22nd, 2012 at 9:30 pm by

I’ve just finished listening to one of Mark Driscoll’s many Leadership Coaching vodcasts. This particular one was on Charles H. Spurgeon. During the vodcast, Mark mentioned many of the things that Spurgeon did during his amazing life and mentioned how he would write 1500 letters a day. Now it’s possible that Mark got the figure wrong, but then again it’s possible that he didn’t. From what I’ve read previously on Spurgeon, he was an amazing man and I reckon it’s probably true that he did write that many.

But one of the feelings I was left with, apart from awe for the great man Spurgeon, was how difficult I find it to be anything even slightly resembling productive in the light of such people. I guess what I’m saying is that I feel a little inadequate. I get things done, but nowhere near the volumes of these men. Hence my claim that Spurgeon must have been Superman. I mean, how can anyone write 1500 letters a day? I’m hard pressed to reply to the dozen e-mails I get in an average day.

The other thoughts I had, which are probably more important than a passing feeling of inadequacy, is that men like Spurgeon were busy with many endeavours for the work of the Lord. They started many, many organisations, raised money for numerous works, preached, evangelised, wrote devotionals and/or books, lectured at colleges, and all the while managed to find time to write 1500 letters a day. Maybe I’m an attrocious time-manager, but how on earth do they do it? I’m writing lectures (and will soon begin delivering them), I write a sermon or 2 each month, I disciple a couple of people each week, I meet weekly for evangelism training and outreach, and I write maybe 10 to 15 short letters a day. I’d love to go about Yangon starting organisation for the needy and corresponding with folks to raise money for them, but I don’t know where I’d find the time. I’m already in an almost constant state of self-loathing because of my insignificant prayer life, and I know only too well that I should be spending what little time I have to spare on soaking myself with Scripture.

Do I need help? I don’t even know the answer to that. I’m acheiving – well almost – what I came here to do, that being teaching, preaching, and evangelising, but as time goes by I’m seeing needs around me that I’d also like to be involved in, like helping with some of the homeless needs and extending training to under-trained church leaders; just to name 2.

If I ever hope to do more I’ll need to find a way to Spurgeon-ise my life. Maybe I should start with making a red cape. Thoughts?

Grace be with you,
Martin

 

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Internet – toothpicks and shovels

Posted on Friday March 30th, 2012 at 8:31 am by

Happy days are here again. For the low, low price of only an arm and a leg I’ve been able to get faster Internet access at my apartment.

Up until today I’ve been accessing a shared network provided by an Internet Café. They make extra money by providing their network wirelessly to those living within spitting range (they’re pretty good spitters here), but that means that several people both in and around the café are getting only crumbs from the available banquet. I recently described it to someone as it being like trying to eat cheesecake with a toothpick.

So I’m gloating about my fast Internet speed (still toothpicks and cheesecake for uploads, but shovel loads inbound) because up until now I’ve not really been able to do much at all. The occasional e-mail session and even more occasional surf, but not much more. That means that all posting and newsletter sending has been on hold. Pity too, as last month I promised a monthly newsletter only to fail immediately. But now that I’ve got it, I’ve posted what I was writing while in pseudo-offline mode (post-dated entries) and the newsletter will be out on April 4th, God willing.

Thanks for your interest and prayers. Grace be with you,
Martin

 

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An apartment to call home

Posted on Monday February 27th, 2012 at 3:50 pm by

This post is an update to share some great news.

But first, some background.

I moved from Australia to Myanmar in December 2010 and shortly after secured an apartment about 1km away from the church I was sent here to work with – the Evangelical Reformed Church (ERC). Before moving in I had made some enquiries about wanting to have some classes there and also to set up the spare room as a place foreign visitors could use when they visited, rather than having to use a hotel. Nothing definite was ever said but I was led to believe that it would be ok. After moving in though, I was advised by the local authorities (similar to a small Australian town’s local council, but not in any way as organised) that I would not be able to have any classes, and foreign visitors must always stay in a hotel. A disappointing outcome, but made somewhat worse by the fact that I’d rented the apartment based on the impression that it’d be ok. What that means is that I would have rented a much smaller and cheaper place if I knew it was only ever going to be just me living there. In hindsight I know I should have asked more questions of more people, but at the time I thought I knew enough to make a good decision. Lesson learnt … or so I thought.

It was a 12-month lease at that apartment, so come November 2011 I was looking to move to something smaller and cheaper. After looking at a number of places I settled on one about half the size in a different but nearby township. Again, a 12 month lease was signed. As you know from my February newsletter, I visited Australia at the same time as when I had to move, so whilst there some of the church folks back here moved my already-packed apartment contents to the new place. Upon my return it was just a matter of unpacking and settling in … or so I thought.

The first problem arose when I wanted to move in on a tourist visa. Top of my list of things to do upon my return from Australia was to secure a business visa, and so I found myself quite busy trying to do so, talking to various people both here in Myanmar and back in Australia. One conversation led to another, which led to another, and so on, and eventually I met with another missionary who was able to help me through the business visa process. After gathering the information and paperwork needed I visited the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, to obtain the visa that would allow me to move in to my apartment.

I returned to Myanmar with passport and visa in hand and headed back to the hotel I’d been staying at. I expected to stay there a day, maybe two, whilst the process of submitting whatever was needed to the local authorities transpired. Thang Bwee has a very good relationship with his local authority people, who were now my local authority people, so he dealt face-to-face with them on my behalf. For the sake of keeping this ramble to a minimum I’ll just say that they requested still more paperwork before allowing me to move in.

One particular piece of paperwork was proving very difficult to secure, and so the delays continued whilst I made even more phone calls, local and abroad, and did some running around town meeting with this one and that. Unfortunately, and to my surprise, nobody was able to help me, and no matter how many different people I connected with they all hit a brick wall. My options were narrowing by the minute, and whilst I was still in good spirits and ever-hopeful, I was starting to wonder how I would find the path to lead me out of this maze.

Thanks to the sovereign hand of God and an abundance of grace I received a phone call from Thang Bwee 2 days ago. The first thing he says to me is, “I have some news. It could be good news or bad news, but I think you’d better decide which it is.” I’m not the sort of person to think the worst straight away, so I’m trying to think what might be coming next, whether it be good or bad. So I tell Thang Bwee that I’m ready, ether way. He strings me along for another 30 seconds or so, and at one point says, “Maybe I should just wait until I see you”, followed by great laughter. He has a terrific sense of humour and a clever wit, and was having fun with me because he knew what the news was that he was bringing. Eventually, he said, “Ok, here’s what I need to tell you. The local authorities have just said to me that you are now allowed to move into your apartment. You don’t need any more paperwork now, they just allow you to go and live there, no problems.”

I was amazed, to say the least. I asked him what had changed and he said that he had met one of the local authorities in the street and talked this matter over with him again, asking (almost begging) for some kind of solution. This man then called another local authority man and after all 3 of them had talked the matter through again they were able to come to a solution.

It seems the problem was that some of the information about the procedure was unclear and that the paperwork being requested was not really required and that I was now free to move in immediately.

The local authorities have been great, and I think the problem is due to the rules surrounding foreign residents having undergone many changes lately. This had resulted in everyone being confused about what was correct and what had changed, but it seems that even the local authorities are having difficulties keeping up with the changes.

Myanmar’s government, both federal and local, are enjoying some long-awaited change, but in the process of moving forward it seems there’s a strong likelihood that they might get tangled up in it at the same time. It’s a process of growing and maturing and moving forward in the direction of democracy and freedom, and these aren’t things too well-known here. Myanmar has had 60 years of military rule and all the complexities that go with it, and so for those in leadership here in Myanmar I can only imagine that they’re feeling their way whilst all the while trying to get it right for everybody.

Naturally I’m extremely happy because of the favourable outcome, and I’m happy to be experiencing this time of change in Myanmar. Though it’s a little clumsy at times, Myanmar is progressing, maturing, and, I believe, moving in the right direction. There is hope here and, albeit slowly, things are improving.

Please thank God with me for the excellent outcome of this situation, and thank you again, my dear prayerful friends and family, for taking my needs to Him in prayer.

Here are some photos of the apartment. As of today, Monday, February 27th, I will at last be calling this place home.

Grace be with you, and feel free to drop in for a cuppa any time ;)
Martin

 

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Video Update – May 2011

Posted on Sunday May 15th, 2011 at 5:21 am by

This is very exciting indeed! Ever since arriving here last December I’ve wanted to use video as another way to deliver information. And finally it’s here!

It’s our first effort and I know we’ll do better next time. You can help us with that too, by commenting in the Leave a Reply section below. Please leave us any feedback and even ask us some questions that we might be able to answer in the next vid.

Feedback already received includes:

  • Thang Bwee to speak louder
  • Clearer picture (less blurry)
  • Subtitles for Martin also
  • Insert occasional shots of other things (like pics of RBI) while we’re speaking – excellent suggestion!!

 

Though you’re not able to watch the video here (sorry folks), you can …

download it to your computer using this link

Look for the green DOWNLOAD button to download it to your computer.
(It’ll be better quality than the one that plays in the browser.)

The video runs for 9 minutes and 50 seconds, and the file size is 71.9mb.

Please tell others about this,
and feel free to use it at your church or small group
(please let me know if you do)

Thang Bwee and I talk about what we've been up to, and what's coming up over the next few months.

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How about a progress report?

Posted on Monday May 2nd, 2011 at 5:17 pm by

If you’ve been following my blog or reading my newsletters you’ll be aware that I’m on a break from language learning at the Yangon university. Classes resume around the end of this month (date to be confirmed) but for now it’s an opportunity for me to be working on a few different things. I’ve had a few e-mails lately asking how my revision is going so I thought I ought to write a quick post and tell you how things are progressing.

I’m a ‘bottom-line’ guy, so if you’re like me then here’s the progress report in brief – everything’s going really well.

But for those who like stories (yes, Jacqueline, I have you in mind specifically) then here’s some more detail.

The agenda for this 2 month break from uni was simple, but demanding – language revision, 4 sermons, and 3 seminar lectures (about 36 teaching hours each). In my April newsletter I wrote that I had “a little over 650 words that I need to revise, many of which I still have to commit to memory”, and that I had “set out a plan of action” to achieve this. Well there’s good news and bad news on this point. My plan of action was good for about 2 weeks and then it became a burden trying to do it and prepare lectures at the same time. So it got shelved for a week or so. Then, when I started revision again, it didn’t turn out to be with the same earnestness as before. Consequently I’ll not hit the 650 words that I was aiming for, but I hope to be good for about 400. On the upside, what I’ve revised so far is sticking in my brain, and I’m at about 150 words.

It’s all good news regarding my sermon preparation. 3 of the 4 sermons are written and have been delivered (the most recent one was yesterday) and the 4th is almost done. I don’t preach that one until June 5th so I’ve decided to put it aside for now to make way for more pressing matters.

Of the 3 seminar lectures I’m preparing I’m currently juggling 2 of them at once. They’re both coming along nicely and are proving to be as demanding as I thought they would be. The third one probably won’t get finished before uni returns, so there’ll be a bit of creative time-management during next semester, with language learning becoming more complex and thus requiring more study.

And the one other thing I’ve been doing, which wasn’t planned but has been most welcomed, is I’ve started deliberately and purposefully memorising Scripture. The plan is to tackle one memory verse each week. So far I’ve memorised 6 and am currently working on the 7th.

So thank you to those who’ve been wondering how I’m going and also for your interest and support.

I’ll finish here, but remember that I’d still very much appreciate your prayers over the next few weeks as there’s a long way to go to completion.

If you’re interested in what I’m preparing and why, please have a look at my other article, What’s in store for ERC.

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A Long Time Coming

Posted on Tuesday November 30th, 2010 at 12:48 pm by

November 27th was a long time coming, but what a day it was.

It started like any other day of late, with some breaky followed by a few hours of TESOL, but this time it would be different. I’m happy to say that Nov 27th saw me finish my TESOL course work completely! Though I still have an exam to sit, and I don’t know exactly when that’ll be, I have completed all the modules, essays, and projects which make up the course. Praise God!!

For those who’ve been walking this TESOL saga journey with me and diligently praying for me, thank you, and bless you for suffering long with me over the past few years. I’ve been upheld by your prayers and have only made it by the grace of God.

Another, equally exciting thing happened on November 27th. The Myanmar embassy in Canberra called to advise that my visa had been approved by the authorities in Yangon, and that I should send my passport, forms, and money to them to get it all finalised.

So the Eagle is all clear for take off, and God willing I’ll be on a 4:30pm Thai Airways flight out of Sydney on Monday, December 6th, arriving in Myanmar on December 7th, ready to begin my language learning at the university the next day! I imagine that it’s going to take me a few weeks to settle in and find a permanent place to live (I’ll be in a hotel for the first week or so), but as soon as is practicable I’ll be sending out a newsletter with some photos of my new beginnings in Yangon.

Grace, peace, and blessings,

Martin

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Prayer calendar

Posted on Sunday January 25th, 2009 at 1:08 pm by

On behalf of those in Myanmar, and from me, thanks for your support and prayers. I know the Lord is working through your faithfulness.

If you’d like my 29-day prayer calendar you can download a PDF version here [196kb]. Print both pages on one sheet, back and front (i.e. double-sided), and then fold it in half and in half again so there are 4 sections.

If you’d like a stack of these then please order some from me – they’re FREE. Just use the Contact Martin page and they’ll be in the mail next-day.

[ If you need a PDF reader I suggest Foxit or Acrobat ]

Some great places to put your new calendar:

  • Inside your Bible – but remember it’s there
  • On your corkboard or whiteboard
  • On your bathroom mirror – pray while you brush, shave, wash, etc.
  • On the back of your toilet door – it’s a great place to pray
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2007 – Jan to Jun update

Posted on Wednesday July 4th, 2007 at 9:00 pm by

I’ll try and fill you in on what’s been happening for the last 6 months and what I expect is coming my way over the next 6. So, sit back, grab a coffee, and enjoy my ramblings.

———

My work doesn’t need to demand my all, and although that’s true in theory, I seem to be struggling with the practicalities of it.

So why is that? I’m a helpdesk guy, why do I let my job demand so much of me? Why is there very little left in my tank after 8 hours at work? Well, first, it’s usually a little more than 8 hours by the time I’m done, although that’s all I get paid for, but still, even 9 hours shouldn’t be that taxing . . . surely! Well, bottom line, it is, and I think it’s because of the myriad of things I’m involved in with our team and that I seem to be the one to come to for advice etc. Add to this the additional administrative tasks (like process writing, knowledgebase administration, etc) and the normal HUGE workload of support calls and e-mails from our customer’s staff, then my days fill up fairly quickly and my to do list looks like a six-month shopping list from Antarctica. I did try to back off a little after coming back from Myanmar last August (2006), but I just can’t sit by while things around me go downhill. I have to put in my suggestions and that usually means some follow-up with actions and there I go again adding to my list.

So as a consequence of my demanding job, which I really enjoy by the way, I have had very little time for anything. But, as I’ve been a little unwell over the last week or so (nothing serious, just a virus) I’ve had some time to invest here on the site and so it’s has had a face-lift and here I am writing news again.

You’re probably wondering what else has been happening, but I’m sorry to say it’s not been a lot really – as I said, I’ve been too worn out to do much – but here are a few bits of news you might be interested in.

Approved as a missionary

I can’t remember exactly when last year but I submitted my application to the NSW branch of Mission Partners (the Australian Presbyterian World Mission) and last October they called me up for the official interview. They asked lots of questions and quizzed me about my hopes and aspirations for life in Myanmar and also expressed a concern with the lack of official theological study under my belt. They talked amongst themselves for a short while then advised me that they’d be happy to recommend me to the national Mission Partners’ committee as a partner church missionary, however it would be pending 12 months of bible college and the completion of my TESOL course. I’d been expecting something like that so I wasn’t too shocked, and in hindsight now I’m glad that I have to do it. It will be invaluable for me to have done the study, and the fellowship and discipline will be very good for me too.

Further to the missionary application, in early February this year the national committee met and accepted the recommendation of the NSW committee and approved my application unanimously (pending the study of course).

TESOL – GRRR!!

I’m afraid that 2 years after starting the course I’m still slogging my way through it. The bad thing though is that the TESOL advisor in QLD who heads up the operation here is OZ sent me a curt e-mail about 2 months ago giving me an absolute final deadline of mid-August this year. It means I’ll have to do about 1 assignment/module a week, and in the last 8 weeks I’ve done 3. When I replied to her e-mail about the deadline I said it was probably unrealistic to expect 1 a week, but having me commit to it was what she wanted to hear so I said I’d give it a try. If I can’t get it all done by then then I’ll just find another course I suppose. I’ll be trying as hard as I can to get it all done though but 1 a week might just be a touch too much.

The Rest

Other less significant things have happened too. I discovered Skypecasting so I used it to “Skypecast” English lessons. It was fun while it lasted (about 3 times a week for 4 weeks) but I found it was consuming a lot of my time and I just couldn’t sustain it. I’d love to start it up again but I can’t see that happening between now and when I’m 80.

I worked Xmas day until 3pm and then had dinner with Mum, Helen (my sister), her husband and 4 kids and a couple of other ring-ins. I worked between Xmas and new year, and have been work, work, working ever since.

I’m still on a diet and am not having any success (could be all the cake and chocolate I eat) but I’ll keep on with it anyway.

Most recently I’ve been preparing for what’s ahead, which is full-time bible college in July. Oh, there’s another thing keeping me busy – I’m doing an evening subject at Sydney Missionary and Bible College (SMBC) called “Church history to 1550″ and I’m really enjoying it, but I’m not looking forward to the exam in June … I stink at exams. So, in preparation for full-time college I’ve been seeking alternative accommodation but it’s not looking good, so I think I’ve pretty much decided to apply to live in at SMBC if they’ll accept me as a full-time student. Either way it means moving out of this flat so I’ve been selling off non-essential furniture. All I’m hoping to be left with soon is a fridge, washing machine, bed and a desk. Then, when it’s close to the time to leave I’ll sell those things too.

In Closing

Here’s the schedule for the next 12 months:

  • Continue to study evening bible college subject until June
  • Continue to work through TESOL
  • Leave work late June
  • Start full-time bible college mid-July
  • After bible college semester finishes early November, go the Myanmar for 4 weeks, late November to late December (Lord willing)
  • February 2008 it’s back to bible college for another year

Prayers Please

So please pray for me, especially that I’ll get TESOL done and get through the bible college exams with a pass (otherwise it’s a waste of time and money as I’ll have to do the subject all over again). Also please pray for my financial support as my missionary work really starts this July and I’ll need something around $1500 per month support for at least the next 4 years after which I hope to be generating enough income from the English teaching school in Myanmar.

Hey, thanks for reading this far and for your interest in what I’m up to. I covet your prayers and as recent history has shown me, I really need them. During February I was going through a difficult time and wasn’t too sure why, but thanks to the prayers and support of my friends and my loving church family the Lord broke through and the burdens were lifted. Please keep praying for the battles that come my way, the ones which are in heavenly places.

In His service and for His glory.
Martin

Grace be with you.

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